What’s the Difference Between Anti-Static and Static Shielding Bags?

The Difference Between Anti-Static, Static Dissipative, and Conductive Static Control Bags

Manufacturing, transportation, and delivery of electronic circuit boards, flat-panels, motherboards, hard drives, microchips, and more require use of ESD-safe, static controlled bags. Problematically, the confusion of terminology between anti-static, static-shielding, and static dissipative bags risks errant voltage, improper handling, and compromised electronic devices.

What Are Anti-Static Bags Made Of?

Standard plastic bags, commonly made of polyethylene, fail to protect ESD-sensitive devices. Electrically charged objects cause ESD events via contact, an electrical short, or dielectric breakdown. ESD is a silent killer in high-tech electronics manufacturing and production. Static electricity control during packaging, transportation, handling, and repair is essential for compliance with EMI/EMC testing and ANSI/ESD S.20.20 standards. The handling and transportation of ESD sensitive items requires protection from both triboelectric buildups caused by contact with personnel or other surfaces, but also when transporting devices between ESD compliant areas and non-compliant areas.

What’s the Difference Between an Anti-Static Bag and A Static Shielding Bag?

Anti-static bags prevent triboelectric charge build up but do not shield components inside the bag from electrostatic discharge. Anti-static bags sustain safe component handling only in EPAs (ESD protected areas). Static shielding bags provide a full encompassing ESD protection mechanism for components within the bag, and in both EPA and non EPA areas.

What’s The Definition of Anti-Static? Are Pink or Blue Bags ESD Safe?

The definition of anti-static only means that a material will not generate triboelectric charges when in contact with fabric, hair, plastic packaging, or other insulators. Generally, anti-static bags rely on an ESD coating which mitigates tribocharging, and reduces the likeliness of electric potential that leads to ESD events. Electronic devices, IC components, and other ESD-sensitive devices are not safe from ESD events when stored, handled, or transported outside an ESD safe environment inside an anti-static bag. 

Again, pink or blue anti-static bags are only ESD safe for components inside of an EPA (ESD protected areas). Only static shielded ESD bags provide protection for transportation outside of an ESD safe area or for shipment. ESD sensitive components should never be shipped in pink or blue anti-static bags!

Is a Pink Anti-Static Bag the Same as a Static Dissipative Bag?

No. Static dissipative ESD bags provide static dissipative materials that slowly drain charge. In ESD areas, these bags hold papers or documents without transferring any charges from a non-ESD safe area.

Clear static dissipative bags are not safe for components, as a component may absorb an ESD shock without the protection of a faraday cage. Hence, only non-ESD sensitive products render safe use with static dissipative bags. Specifications should be noted clearly when purchasing clear ESD bags; a truly static dissipative bag will produce the surface resistance noted below.

Static dissipative materials have a surface resistance greater than 10 kilohms but less than 100 gigohms when tested according to ANSI/ESD STM11.11 or a volume resistivity greater than 1.0 × 105 ohm-cm but less than or equal to 1.0 × 1012 ohm-cm when tested according to the methods of ANSI/ESD STM11.12.

pink-esd-bag-static-control

Are Pink Bags ESD Safe?

Standard pink, blue, and sometimes clear anti-static bags are made of polyethylene with an outer layer of ESD material. Sometimes, these bags can also be black when trace amounts of carbon are deposited during the manufacturing process. Pink or clear anti-static bags are only safe for use in an EPA (ESD protected area). Transferring a component from an EPA area to a non-EPA area inside of a pink, blue or clear anti-static bag is not safe.

Are Static Dissipative Bags Conductive?

No, static dissipative bags are not conductive by definition. which designates a surface resistance of more than 1 x 10 5 ohms/sq but less than 1 x10 11 ohms/sq. The precise resistance of a static dissipative layer inhibits charges from transferring to nearby components by a controlled bleeding of the charge, but the layer does not offer protection for a charge that reaches the bag from a charged item, tool, or a person. Safe ESD packaging for commercial applications is defined by ESD/ANSI S20.20 which you can learn more about here, including links to free PDF documents from ESDA.org.

What Are Conductive Bags and What Are They Made Of?

Conductive bags, also known as static shielding bags, or metalized shielding bags provide safe transit from an EPA area to a non EPA. The most common construction material is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Metalized film layers and conductive function shield contents from static charges via the Faraday cage effect. A dielectric layer of plastic film, polyester, and a conductive metal aluminum layer, protects ESD sensitive devices from shocks generated from the user, the surface, or other surrounding materials. Conductive ESD bags .

Difference Between Metal-In and Metal-Out ESD Shielding Bags

https://www.gotopac.com/products/packaging-labeling/esd-packaging/static-shielding-bags.html
Metal-Out Static Shielding Bag
1500 Series Metal-Out Static Shielding Bags with Open-Top
Metal-In Static Shielding Bag

Static shielding bags feature either a metal-in or metal-out construction.

Metalized shielded bags feature either a metal-in or metal-out design. The buried metal design is common for the packaging of ESD sensitive (ESDS) components. Metal-out shielding bags also protect against static induced damage. The benefits of metal-in construction is usually a factor of cost and durability. A metal layer closer to the outside surface results in a lower resistant reading than the metal-in ESD bags, which can be important in some applications.

1000™ Series Open-Top, Metal-In Static Shielding Bags

Metal-In & Metal-Out ESD Bags

SCS Static Shielding Bags 1000 are manufactured from a polyester, metal, polyethylene laminate. The polyester dielectric in concert with the metal layer provides discharge shielding. The exterior being static dissipative allows electrostatic charges to be removed when grounded.

"Metal-out shielding bags have a highly conductive outer layer which promotes a more rapid discharge in static fields thereby creating the event which the metal layer must then attempt to attenuate. Metal-in shielding bags have a dissipative outer layer which inherently dampens the discharge thereby lessening very damaging electrostatic events.  The shielding capabilities of the actual metal layer is a function of its conductivity not its position in the bag."

Discharge shielding is provided by materials that have a surface resistance equal to or less than 1 kilohm when tested according to ANSI/ESD STM11.11 or a volume resistivity of equal to or less than 1 × 10­ ohm-cm when tested according to the methods of ANSI/ESD STM11.12. In addition, effective shielding may be provided by packaging materials that provide a sufficiently large air gap between the package and the ESDS contents.

Packing and Handling Requirements for ANSI/ESD Compliance

Core Requirements for ESD/ANSI TR20.20 Packaging and Materials:

  • The main ESD function of these packaging and materials handling products is to limit the possible impact of ESD from triboelectric charge generation, direct discharge, and in some cases electrostatic fields.
  • A second requirement is that the material can be grounded so that the resistance range must be conductive or dissipative. A third property required outside the EPA is to provide protection from direct electrostatic discharges that is discharge shielding.
  • A third property required outside the EPA is to provide protection from direct electrostatic discharges that is discharge shielding. ESDA.org 

ANSI/ESD STM11.31 provides a method of evaluation for the energy transferred from the package to the interior.

The ability of some packages to provide discharge shielding may be evaluated using ANSI/ESD STM11.31 which measures the energy transferred to the package interior. A material’s low charging properties are not necessarily predicted by its resistance or resistivity.

Find a Metal-in or Metal-Out Static Control Bags Online

Get Help from a Static Control Specialist

No facility is one-in-the-same. Demand continually grows for a greater degree of product choices with in-stock availability. How can we help?

Production Automation (PAC) is recognized as an ESD specialized organization by enterprises across the US and Latin America. That’s because we directly support each of our ESD product lines from its original invoice to final delivery, including on-site satisfaction, returns, and warranties. 

We provide authentic, manufacturer direct static control equipment for general and critical environments including garments, packaging, workstations, flooring, furniture, and test devices. 

Ask our static control experts for help with product selection for ANSI/ESD & ESDA standards.

Share this Article:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Print
Mitch Walleser

Mitch Walleser

Mitch is a contributing writer for Production Automation Corporation. PAC is a factory-direct distributor of products and environmental solutions for industrial and critical requirements within electronics, medical device, life science, pharmaceutical, and general manufacturing industries. Mitch has worked with manufacturing engineers, in-house specialists, and factory experts to highlight and uncover manufacturing solutions. His background includes 3D printing, electronics, and cleanroom manufacturing.

Search Posts

About Production Automation

Production Automation Corporation (that’s us) is an essential business supplier for medical device, cleanroom, and general manufacturing industries.

All products featured on the PAC blog are available through the www.gotopac.com webstore. Online orders are shipped and fulfilled Monday – Friday from PAC warehouses in California, Minnesota, and Texas.

Production Automation Corporation (PAC) stands 100% behind a product catalog of over 40,000 products, which includes support for factory warranties, value added services, and returns. Get help from a PAC sales rep during business hours via email, phone, or live chat.

Shop Online: www.gotopac.com
Toll Free: (888) 903-0333
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: 8am - 5pm CST